Why a USB floppy drive? Well, today the vast majority of computers and laptops manufactured no longer come with floppy disk drives, and most users don’t notice…or care. But the floppy is not dead!
If you’re one of the many users who still needs or wants to use diskettes, you can get an external USB floppy drive. If you have Windows XP or earlier, a floppy drive may in fact be your only option when you need to reboot or reinstall your operating system. They are very affordable, and an easy way to archive and exchange your data.
There are a good number of USB floppy drives on the market and they all do pretty much the same thing in the same way, but here are the top three based on online user reviews.
LaCie USB Floppy Drives
LaCie is a leader in external and portable drives, and their USB Pocket Floppy Disk Drive is one of the best due to how easy it is to use and carry around with you. It works with both PC’s and Mac’s, and you don’t need a driver…it is completely plug and play in any computer.
Another handy feature is that it doesn’t need a power source, as it works by the power supplied from your computer through the high speed USB. The transfer rate is 250-500 kbps and it’s super-slim and easy to take with you at only just over half a pound. It works with Windows 98 up to XP, and Mac OS 8.6 on up to 10.3.
LaCie USB floppy drives tend to run slightly higher in price than others, between $35 and $50 depending on the retailer, but they are the most reliable and road-tested external drives available.
Targus USB Floppy Drives
Targus Slimline USB external floppy drive is another winner, based on it’s ease of use and portability. All you have to do is plug it in to your computer, and the drive will install itself and begin to work. You plug it in, unplug it, and plug it in again without having to shut down or restart your computer.
It reads and writes PC and Mac diskettes and will work with the majority of computers running Mac OS9 and up, and Windows 2000 to Vista. No external power source required. You can usually find a Targus USB floppy drive for between $30 and $40.
Apricorn USB Floppy Drives
Apricorn’s USB floppy drive is extremely simple, and very inexpensive. Weighing in at just 9 ounces, it’s small and super portable. Like the others, this drive just needs to be plugged in to your computer’s USB port and it is ready to go.
If you need to do simple data swaps or small backups, this is a great little floppy drive. It also draws power via the USB, so you don’t need to lug around an AC adaptor. It works with Windows 200 and XP, and Mac OS9.2.2 and above. These USB floppy drives can be found for as low as $25 in some places, so are ideal if you need basic, occasional data swap/storage.
A USB floppy drive is a simple and easy way to incorporate your old data with your new computer, and these three models are the best bets for your money…and your data.